Swimming pools offer a great respite from the heat in California, especially if you don’t live along the coast. Whether you own a pool, visit a friend with one, or plan a day at the public pool, swimming can be a fun way to beat the heat and spend time with family and friends. However, pools present some serious risks, especially when they’re not maintained properly. If you or someone you love suffered injuries or died in a pool accident, speak with our California swimming pool accident lawyers immediately.
People who own a pool, whether at a private home or at a commercial facility, hotel, gym, or other location, must maintain it and keep visitors safe from potential hazards. Failure to follow all laws and regulations can cause serious injuries and even death. At Silva Injury Law, we’ve helped many clients recover compensation from careless pool owners and facilities that didn’t keep visitors safe. Contact our office if you have questions about swimming pool lawsuits in California.
Common Causes Of Swimming Pool Injuries
Numerous types of accidents and incidents can lead to injuries in a swimming pool. Here is a look at some of the most common causes of swimming pool accidents in California.
Drowning
Drowning is one of the most common swimming pool injuries, resulting in thousands of deaths every year. Drowning happens when someone is submerged under water, causing them to suffocate. According to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more children ages one through four die from drowning than any other cause of death. For children 5-14 years of age, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death. The CDC estimates that:
- 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings occur each year, which works out to an average of 11 drowning deaths per day; and
- 8,000 non-fatal accidental drownings happen each year, which is an average of 22 per day.
If someone survives longer than 24 hours after being submerged, it’s typically classified as a near-drowning. Drownings can happen for various reasons, from inexperience to becoming trapped by a pool drain.
Slip and Falls
Because the area near a pool is often wet, you can slip and fall, injuring yourself on the cement or falling into the pool and drowning. That’s why no one should ever run around or near a pool. Not all slips and falls result from wet ground, though. Pool owners must take extra precautions to ensure no dangerous conditions exist, such as broken tiles or uneven ground, that can cause someone to slip or trip near a pool.
Electrical Accidents
It’s terrifying to think about, but there’s a risk of electrical shock in a pool. Pools require electricity for lights and filters. If an electrical system is installed incorrectly or improperly maintained, it can cause electric shock drowning that can injure or kill someone.
Pool Chemical Accidents
Many people are surprised to learn that pool chemicals can cause injuries. People can be injured by breathing in vapors, fumes, and gasses released by pool chemicals. Injuries can also result from undiluted or insufficiently diluted chemicals coming into contact with your skin, eyes, or mouth. Floating chlorine containers can also be dangerous, especially with younger children nearby.
Diving Boards
Diving boards are a lot of fun but are also very dangerous. People can suffer head injuries, broken bones, and other injuries when using a diving board. Someone diving head-first into a shallow pool could snap their spinal cord, resulting in paralysis. Diving boards that are poorly maintained can malfunction or break, leading to injuries.
Common Injuries That Occur At California Swimming Pools
Any number of injuries can occur at a swimming pool. Some of the most common ones include:
- Broken bones,
- Spinal cord damage,
- Traumatic brain injuries,
- Other head trauma,
- Paralysis,
- Lung damage, and
- Death.
Catastrophic injuries can result in massive healthcare costs, quickly depleting your available financial resources and insurance coverage. Hiring skilled California swimming pool accident attorneys is crucial to help you more effectively pursue compensation for your losses.
Who Is Liable In A Swimming Pool Accident?
Responsible parties in swimming pool accidents vary. Who is liable for your damages will depend on the circ*mstances of the accident and who owns the pool. Private individuals, companies, and public pool owners can all be held liable for injuries.
Pool accidents fall under an area of law called premises liability. Premise liability law requires property owners to follow all laws and maintain their premises to prevent visitors from being harmed. This law area of law is complex, which is why you should retain the services of experienced California swimming pool accident lawyers. At Silva Injury Law, we have the experience and resources necessary to help you identify and hold all responsible parties accountable for your injuries.
Receiving Compensation For Swimming Pool Injuries
Understandably, victims and family members want to know what types of compensation are available in swimming pool accidents. The compensation you can receive will depend on the circ*mstances of your accident. In general, recoverable damages include the following:
- Medical expenses to date,
- Future expected medical costs,
- Time lost from work,
- Future loss of earning capacity,
- Rehabilitation and medical equipment costs,
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress,
- Loss of consortium, and
- Wrongful death damages.
When you meet with the Silva Injury Law team, we’ll explain the damages that apply to your case and how we calculate a potential settlement value.
Why Hire California Swimming Pool Accident Attorneys?
The law doesn’t require you to hire a lawyer, so you might be wondering why you should hire one after suffering a swimming pool accident. An experienced attorney can conduct an independent investigation of your accident and preserve all relevant evidence. They can speak with witnesses and handle all communication with the defendant’s insurance companies and attorneys. When it’s time to negotiate a settlement, your attorney can handle all negotiations on your behalf so that you can focus on your recovery. If the insurance company refuses to extend a reasonable and fair offer, your attorney canfile a lawsuiton your behalf. A California swimming pool accident lawyer will also know how to calculate and prove your damages so that you can be sure you’re asking for all of the compensation you’re eligible to receive.
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– Abraham Lincoln
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Unlike some other California law firms,Silva Injury Lawwill give your case the personal attention and time required to reach a resolution that fits your needs. Some lawyers don’t want to take cases to court or don’t have the financial resources and experience to see a case through to trial. Attorney Michael Joe Silva previously worked as a California prosecutor, so he understands how to build and argue a strong case. At Silva Injury Law, our team has experience advocating for clients at all stages of litigation and knows what it takes to be successful at the negotiating table and in the courtroom. If you or a loved one was injured in a swimming pool accident,contact ustodayto learn more about how we can help you.
Ourhighly-skilled legal teamalso handles other cases, such as:
- Car Accidents,
- Livestock Accidents,
- Sexual Abuse,
- Wrongful Death,
- Trucking Accidents,
- Motorcycle Accidents,
- Pedestrian Accidents,
- Product Liability,
- Bicycle Accidents,
- Drunk Driving Accidents,
- Distracted Driving Accidents,
- Nursing Home Abuse,
- ,
- Premises Liability, and
- Acupuncture Pneumothorax
